R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu
Cross-LoC traders seek ISD lines: Despite being the biggest confidence building measure (CBM) between India and Pakistan, the trans-LoC trade between the two countries is yet to take off fully with some hitches prohibiting the smooth functioning of business. “Since its inception on October 10, 2008, both countries have traded goods worth Rs 1,000 crore, but the state government has not done enough to give the much desired impetus to the trade,” a cross-LoC trader told The Tribune over the phone from Poonch.

Srinagar
Snow control room set up in Kashmir: With weathermen forecasting snowfall this week, authorities in Kashmir on Monday set up a central snow control room here and directed district administration to ensure minimum disruption of services in the Valley. Mechanical Engineering Department has been asked to deploy 93 snow clearance machines, while traffic department has been instructed to ensure anti-skid chains on tyres of the vehicles heading for the ski resort of Gulmarg, an official spokesman said here today. The orders were passed by Officiating Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Abdul Majeed Mir after receiving weather forecast of light to moderate snowfall between January 4 and 7 due to western disturbance.

Anantnag gets district jail: Director General (Prisons) Navin Agarwal inaugurated a district jail in Anantnag on Sunday to ensure speedy trials, an official said here. Agarwal said, “The jail will serve various purposes, including speeding up trials of inmates belonging to south Kashmir. It will also bring relief to the police which, otherwise, has to escort inmates from the place of their lodging to trial courts.” “The jail will also facilitate meetings of family members and relatives with the inmates,” he added. Agarwal also inspected the jail and took stock of the security gadgets, including CCTV cameras, and the deployment of security staff. 

DEHRADUN

DEHRADUN
Four held for loot: The Doiwala police has claimed to have cracked a loot case with the arrest of four persons. The accused, Shahnawaz, Rajiv Khuswaha, Nazakat and Samar Singh Pundir had allegedly looted Army man Tirath Singh’s house on December 14. The police has recovered gold jewellery, cellphones and two ration cards from their possession. According to information, Shahnawaz befriended Tirath Singh’s sister Gita Bisht over the phone and got to know from her that her brother was in the Army and did not stay here. On December 14, he, along with three of his accomplices, went to their home and after training gun at Tirath’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law, who were present in the house at that time, decamped with jewellery and cellphones. On the basis of cellphone details and the vehicle number, the police managed to arrest all accused. 

Kumaon Briefs

3 killed, 12 hurt as vehicle rams into a tree
Three persons were killed and 12 others injured when the four-wheeler in which they were travelling hit a tree on the Rudrapur-Kitcha road. Two of the deceased have been identified as 35-year-old Jayant Bannerjee of the Transit Camp area in Rudrapur and 20-year-old Chinki of Pilibhit. The third deceased is yet to be identified. While two of the victims died on the spot, the third died while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Rudrapur.

Man held with liquor
Carrying on their drive against illegal sale and supply of liquor, the Haldwani police arrested a resident of the Gorapadav area and allegedly seized three cases of countrymade liquor from him. The accused has been identified as Pappu of the Gorapadav area. The arrest came following a tip-off from an informer. With the state in the poll mode, the police is keeping a strict vigil on the sale and supply of liquor. Arrests and large scale recoveries are being reported from the various parts of the region.

Body of old man found
The recovery of a body of an old man in the Mahrudi area of Bageshwar has caused panic in the area. The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old Pran Dutt Pathak of Sangaur village near Berinag. He had been reported missing for the past one week. The police is making efforts to ascertain how he reached the Mahrudi area and what was the cause of his death? The post-mortem of the deceased was conducted and his body was handed over to his family members for performing the last rites.

Honey, eggs for park animals
The authorities at the Pandit Gobind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoological Park in Nainital claim to have made special arrangements for the zoo inmates to deal with the prevailing cold conditions. It is learnt that while proper shelters have been made for animals to retire at night, curtains have been put up in the enclosures where the birds are being kept. In addition to this, special food articles like honey and eggs are being given to birds and animals to help them keep warm. The zoo has drawn an exceptionally high number of visitors during the last weekend.

Mini stadium still a dream
Sportsmen in the Dineshpur area of Udham Singh Nagar are agitated over the failure of the government to provide them the promised mini stadium. They claim that despite Chief Minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri having given a clearance to the facility, nothing concrete has been done to give it a real shape. While the poll campaign is on, there are charges and counter-charges with regards to the delay that are doing the rounds in the area.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)